The NBC2 Investigators first told you about the rape kit backlog two years ago. We learned there were more than 13,000 untested rape kits in our state, and 8,600 of them that should have been turned over for processing.

She agreed. Once the man got into her car, she said he knocked her unconscious and raped her in the woods behind the Chapel By The Sea.

She was able to get away and call 911. A rape was kit performed and turned over to deputies. Then it sat on a shelf untested for the next 18 years.

"Back in the 1980s and 1990s and even early 2000s, when sexual assault and rape kits weren't something that people ever talked about, I think a lot of mistakes were made," said Julie Weil, a rape survivor and activist.

But in March 2016, Governor Rick Scott signed legislation requiring law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits for processing within 30 days. Then, crime labs have 120 days to complete an analysis of those kits.

Also, state labs got $2.3 million to begin testing the backlogged rape kits.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office sent the 1998 rape kit from Fort Myers Beach for analysis, and there was a DNA match.

Cornelius Florman, whose grandfather was the founder of Reynolds Wrap, DNA came up as a match to the Fort Myers Beach rape.

Florman has a lengthy rap sheet that includes being convicted of a 1986 rape in Virginia, accused of another two rapes in Virginia and Kentucky, and convicted for two more misdemeanors in Texas.

"When we started this endeavor, and we went to the legislature and asked for $2.3 million, I said if we can help one rape victim, it's worth it," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "Now, not only has that case been solved but we've had over 1,300 hits."

"As your reporting shows and the arrest in Virgina shows, that the DNA evidence that was sitting on a shelf was very important, and that backlog needed to be cleared," said Senator Lizbeth Benaqusito, who represents Florida's 27th District. "The testing of every kit provides an opportunity for law enforcement officials to find a match and to pursue a case against an offender."

In December 2015, the Lee County Sheriff's Office had over 400 kits that should have been turned over for processing. A spokesperson said all of those kits had been submitted.

In December 2015, Fort Myers Police had 25 unsubmitted kits, and 20 of them were submitted.

Bondi hopes more cold case rapes will reopen.

"Many rapists are serial rapists, and we could be helping women and victims all over this country," said Bondi. "Those kits could hold valuable evidence to help other victims."

Since the rape kit backlog was made public two years ago, there have been three arrests related to cold case rapes in Florida - in Volusia County, Polk County, and Lee County.

"We were hopeful when we passed the legislation that in the testing of those kits, that hits would happen," Benaqusito said. "And there would be linkage to folks who might've committed other crimes of this nature and that has come true."

"Being able to know that the person who did this to you is behind bars, and going to stay behind bars, is life-changing," said Bondi.

The 1998 rape survivor still lives on Fort Myers Beach. However, she did not walk to talk to us.

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